The Last Photograph

Marcus read the email again.

He wanted to believe he had misunderstood it.

But the words remained exactly the same.

Once we're married, I want to make sure Marcus understands that his mother cannot keep showing up whenever she wants. We need boundaries. Eventually, she should move closer to her sister or find somewhere smaller. I don't want her becoming part of our daily lives.

Beneath that paragraph was another sentence.

The sooner we establish that I'm the woman of the house, the better.

Marcus lowered the paper.

“Vivian, what does this mean?””

Vivian reached for it.

“It's private.””

“It's about my mother.””

“It's about our future!””

Marcus looked at her.

“You planned to make her move away?””

Vivian rolled her eyes.

“I said eventually. I didn't say tomorrow.””

Darlene stood very still.

Patricia looked down at the floor.

Marcus's voice became quieter.

“Why would you even write something like this?””

Vivian folded her arms.

“Because I know what happens when mothers don't respect boundaries.””

Darlene finally spoke.

“What boundary have I crossed?””

Vivian turned toward her.

“You call Marcus every day.””

“He's my son.””

“You show up at our apartment without asking.””

Darlene frowned.

“I have been there twice. Both times Marcus invited me.””

“And you bring food. You leave things in the refrigerator. You act like he still lives with you.””

Marcus interrupted.

“Vivian, she brought groceries because you told me you were too busy to shop.””

Vivian's cheeks flushed.

“That was different.””

Darlene looked at her.

“I brought your favorite peach cobbler last Thanksgiving.””

Vivian shrugged.

“I never asked you to.””

“No,” Darlene replied.

“But you ate three slices.””

Tasha looked down, trying not to react.

Nicole turned away.

Marcus rubbed his face.

“Mom, please don't.””

Darlene nodded.

She wasn't interested in winning an argument.

She was beginning to understand something much worse.

Vivian had never wanted a family.

She had wanted a wedding.

And she had wanted a husband who would come with no obligations attached.

Patricia moved closer to her daughter.

“Vivian, I told you before that marriage wasn't about replacing someone's family.””

Vivian snapped.

“Mom, you don't understand. Marcus is my husband. I should come first.””

Patricia answered calmly.

“Coming first doesn't mean everyone else must come last.””

Vivian turned away.

Then she looked at Marcus.

“Are you really going to let your mother control our marriage?””

Marcus shook his head.

“I'm asking why you made plans about her life without even talking to me.””

“Because I know you wouldn't agree!””

The admission escaped before Vivian could stop it.

Marcus stared at her.

“So you knew I wouldn't agree, and you planned to do it anyway?””

Vivian's expression changed.

She looked toward the guests.

Several people were openly watching now.

She lowered her voice.

“Can we please stop this? We're standing in front of everybody.””

Marcus looked at the photographer.

“Could you give us a moment?””

The photographer nodded and stepped away.

The wedding coordinator began guiding guests toward the reception area.

But Patricia wasn't finished.

She took another sheet from the envelope.

“There's something else.””

Vivian's head snapped around.

“Mom, no!””

Patricia held up the document.

“This is a message you sent me last week.””

She read it aloud.

After the wedding, I want Marcus to put the house in both our names. His mother doesn't need to have access to anything. I don't want her thinking she has a claim on our future.

Darlene looked confused.

“What house?””

Marcus frowned.

“Mom, she's talking about my house.””

Vivian nodded quickly.

“Exactly. Our house.””

Marcus looked at her.

“I bought that house before I met you.””

“And we're getting married!””

“That doesn't mean you get to decide what happens to it without discussing it with me.””

Vivian's eyes flashed.

“Why are you treating me like a stranger?””

Marcus took a breath.

“Because today I'm discovering things about you that I should have known months ago.””

The words struck harder than shouting.

Vivian's face crumpled.

She looked toward Patricia.

“You're my mother. You're supposed to support me.””

Patricia's eyes softened, but her voice remained firm.

“I am supporting you. I'm telling you the truth before you destroy your own life.””

Vivian laughed bitterly.

“You've always liked Darlene more than me.””

Patricia stared at her.

“That isn't true.””

“You always take her side!””

“I take the side of whoever is being mistreated.””

Vivian stepped back.

Then she noticed something on the table.

The damaged wedding veil.

She grabbed it and held it against her chest.

“Look what your mother did to me, Marcus.””

Marcus looked at the cut lace.

Then at the torn photograph inside Darlene's handbag.

“I know what she did.””

Vivian's expression brightened slightly.

“You do?””

“Yes. She cut your veil. And you owe her an apology for tearing Dad's photograph.””

Vivian stared at him.

“That's all?””

“No.””

Marcus looked down at the email.

“And I need to know why you've been planning our marriage like a business arrangement.””

Vivian's tears began falling.

“Because I wanted security!””

Marcus frowned.

“What?””

She wiped her cheeks.

“I wanted to know that after today, I wouldn't have to fight for my place. Your mother has always been there. Your family has always been there. I wanted something that belonged to us.””

Marcus's voice softened slightly.

“You could have told me that.””

“I did!””

“No, Vivian. You sent emails behind my back.””

For the first time, Vivian looked genuinely frightened.

She reached for his hand.

“Baby, please. We can fix this.””

Marcus didn't take it.

Then Patricia's phone rang.

She glanced at the screen.

Her expression changed.

“Hello?””